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Webster 1913 Edition

Epistolary

E-pis′to-la-ry

,
Adj.
[L.
epistolaris
, fr.
epistola
: cf. F.
épistolaire
.]
1.
Pertaining to epistles or letters; suitable to letters and correspondence;
as, an
epistolary
style
.
2.
Contained in letters; carried on by letters.
“Epistolary correspondence.”
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition

Epistolary

EPIS'TOLARY

,
Adj.
Pertaining to epistles or letters; suitable to letters and correspondence; familiar; as an epistolary style.
1.
Contained in letters; carried on by letters; as an epistolary correspondence.

Definition 2024

epistolary

epistolary

English

Noun

epistolary ‎(plural epistolaries)

  1. a Christian liturgical book containing set readings for church services from the New Testament Epistles.

Adjective

epistolary ‎(comparative more epistolary, superlative most epistolary)

  1. of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters
  2. carried on by written correspondence
  3. in the manner of written correspondence
    epistolary style
    an epistolary novel

Related terms

Translations

References

  1. ↑ “epistolary” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

Etymology

1650s, from French épistolaire, from Latin epistolaris, from Latin epistola ‎(“letter”) (English epistle),[1] from Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή ‎(epistolḗ) from ἐπιστέλλω ‎(epistéllō, “I send a message”) from ἐπί ‎(epí, “upon”) + στέλλω ‎(stéllō, “I prepare, send”).

Pronunciation

  • Hyphenation: e‧pis‧to‧la‧ry

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